Christ's Compassion for a Condemned City

Introduction

Human emotion is not at all simple, although we usually speak of it as if it was. When we see someone else expressing deep emotion, or we are deeply emotional ourselves, we tend to try to label it simplistically. For example, if someone yells at you with colourful language, you will conclude they are angry. But beneath the anger that is expressed is a whole cocktail of emotions mixed together which the person yelling may not even be aware of. Anger often accompanies fear, frustration, loneliness, hurt, grief, and even guilt. Think of all the times you have been in a situation that moved you so deeply that you were not sure whether to laugh or cry. Think of the feeling of holding your newborn baby in your arms and the mix of pride and humility, joy and fear, hope and weakness that comes with that experience.

This is why human beings express emotions best through art. Whether it is the contrast of colours in a painting, the flowing mood of a classic symphony, or the linguistic tone of a poem, art communicates something that is beyond description; something we can try to describe with words like ‘anger’, ‘sadness,’ or ‘joy’ but somehow these words always fall short of what we are actually feeling. This complexity of feeling is one of the beautiful things about being human.

Jesus Christ is fully God, but also fully human and so he experienced human emotions the same way we do. He was deeply moved by many things in his life and, though he never let raw emotion rule over him, he willingly experienced the fullness of it.

In this text we see one of the most emotional moments of Jesus’ life in the recorded Gospels, alongside his prayer in Gethsemane. There is something tragically poetic about these verses, like the refrain of a song composed by a singer at the end of themselves. This potent mix of longing, compassion, judgement, and hope is a stark contrast from all the irony of the previous 36 verses of this chapter. We will look at each of these emotions that Jesus’ expresses separately and see how they intermingle.

Longing

First, we see in this passage a great longing in the heart of Christ. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem.” This is not irony, as the previous verses were before they gave way to the harsh judgement communicated in verses 34-36, not just on the hypocritical religious leaders, but on the people whom they represent and who are as guilty as their leaders.

However, here, all this harshness gives way to an emotion deep behind these statements of wrath and judgement: that is longing. It is related to an emotion God often uses in the OT to express his feelings towards Israel when they when after false gods, the word jealousy. Psalm 78:58

Psalm 78:58 NIV 2011

They angered him with their high places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols.

Jealousy is a kind of anger that arises when someone perceives that their love or affection is not being returned as it should be, especially when that affection is being given to another that is undeserving of it. This is the emotion behind the anger a person feels when they discover that their lover has been with someone else. It is a violent emotion that, in sinful humans, can lead to murder. For us, it is often unwarranted, and even when it is justified there are few emotions more difficult to control than this.

But again, jealousy is a complex emotion. Although it is usually expressed in anger, as God did to Israel when they wandered into idolatry. Israel took the love and worship they should have been giving to YHWH and gave it to demons and to gods which are not really gods. This angered God because, behind that anger is a righteous longing. God longs for his people, he yearns for them. This isn’t a desperate longing, as if God needs us, but rather it is a longing born from a conscious choice God made before the foundation of the world to love the human race and to love Abraham and his descendants.

So Christ here, after the harsh words said before, takes a breath and longingly cries out “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!” This was the city of God! The city of God’s chosen king, David. This city represented the centre of the spiritual world up to this point. Jews all over the world prayed towards this city because in it was the temple, the one place on earth where God’s presence dwelt among men. And yet it is not these things which Christ identifies with this city, but rather the failure of its inhabitants to live up to it’s glorious calling. It is the city that kills the prophets, those sent by God to reveal God’s word to them. Instead of stoning false prophets, sorcerers, and idolaters like they were commanded to in the Law, they stone to death those whom God sends to them. This city has consistently rejected its calling despite the great blessing given to it by being the place where God’s presence dwelt on earth.

This mournful sense of longing is felt in the exclamation “O” and the repetition of “Jerusalem.” He is looking at how wicked this city has acted and the deep love of God is proved in that, as Christ looks at this wickedness and rejection of God, he fundamentally feels sad. “If only things were different. If only they would listen. If only they would believe. Then they would have life and blessing and I could continue to dwell among them. I would be their God and they would be my people.”

But as it is, they have made their decision. They have no desire for the continued presence of YHWH. They will not bow to their heavenly Lord, although they will put on a great show of hypocrisy to make it look like they do. In response, Christ rejects Jerusalem in sorrow.

What about the love of God? Isn’t God’s love unconditional? To answer that, I want to ask you a strange question: what is the difference between love and slavery? They both require giving yourself to another, so what is the difference? The difference is that in love, we entrust ourselves to another who, in a covenantal setting, is required to give of themselves to us. In the covenant of marriage, the husband and wife both give themselves to the other in service and so show true, covenant love. God is no one’s slave, but he is the source of all love.

God’s unconditional love does have one condition, it is a condition that is necessary in any relationship of true love, and that is that this love is accepted and participated in. When in covenant with God, there is no sin God will not forgive, but to step out of that covenant is to step out of his love. To say God’s love is unconditional is true, but often misunderstood. It is like saying that a boat is unsinkable. This means that if you are in that boat you will never sink. But it doesn’t speak to what may happen to you if you jump overboard. God’s love in unconditional, but Israel has jumped off the unsinkable boat and, despite the depths about to swallow them up, they refuse to get back on board.

Compassion

But this does not take away the great compassion God in Christ feels towards them. This is expressed in the illustration of a hen gather her baby chicks together. Such a motherly instinct is evidence of a desire for their good and protection. Now this text immediately speaks to Jesus’ ministry, especially over the last week. How he had taught the people and, though they listen, he saw no fruit of true faith in most of them. But this also speaks to God’s attitude towards the city, and the nation it represents, over the centuries leading up to this moment. How often God longed to take those he had chosen as his children and gather them up for protection, warmth, and sustenance. Although God identifies himself primarily as our Father, there is also a motherly attitude he has towards his people as he see here. See this also in Is 49:15

Isaiah 49:15 ESV

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.

Christ’s compassion has him look on a people so often caught up in sin with pity and a great desire, with a great many attempts, to gather up the people he loves to shelter them, provide for them, and be near them always. In all the passages of Scripture full of judgement and wrath, remember Ezekiel 18:32

Ezekiel 18:32 NIV 2011

For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!

God is not indifferent to the reaction of sinners. He eagerly desires repentance and not punishment for the wicked. Peter tells us that this is why Christ is taking more than 2000 years to return in 2 Peter 3:9

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

The day Adam and Eve fell was a sad day for God. Every sin fills God’s heart with grief as he longs to show compassion on them if they would just repent and turn to him in faith. And yet, Jerusalem and Israel as a whole has consistently rejected this, which leads us to the next emotion in these words.

Judgement

Judgement follows the consistent rejection of God’s compassion. “See, your house is left to you desolate.” This is a reference to Jeremiah 12:7 and 22:5. It speaks of God abandoning Jerusalem to her enemies. He has stood with the door open for so long, calling his children to come in before the door closes and wolves feast on them, but they were not willing. Now that dreadful and sorrowful moment has come, the door most close and the darkness will surround Jerusalem as evil men feast on what is left of the once glorious city. Even today, a mosque to Allah sits where the Temple of YHWH once stood; a fitting image of the triumph of God’s enemies over what was once the place of His dwelling on earth.

This abandonment is explained in verse 39, “For I tell you, you will not see me again until...” With these words, Jesus formally ends his public teaching ministry in Matthew’s gospel. The discourse after this passage in chapters 24-25 is given only to the disciples, who represent that remnant of Israel who are chosen to be the continuation of God’s chosen people and to build the New Covenant church long after the Temple is destroyed.

Jesus will go on in chapter 24 prophesying the destruction of the Temple as the outworking of the desolation that Israel is left to. A majour shift is underway where the New Covenant is coming in. Now, God’s presence will truly be among his people, not in a Temple but in the fellowship and the hearts of those who believe. His people will be those who are Abraham’s spiritual descendants, those who inherit his faith, and not his physical descendants. The destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70 AD will mark a distinctive end to the Jewish religion as it existed up until that point, as a sign of their desolation. Their judgement is coming, and with the end of Christ’s preaching ministry to Jerusalem comes the end of any hope they may have to escape this fate.

Hope

But does this mean there is not hope? Absolutely not. In the OT prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, there is a lot of talk about judgement and destruction on Israel for their unfaithfulness to God, and yet there is always a ray of hope left to them; a reminder that God has not yet fully abandoned them and that the door of repentance remains unlocked to those who would seek it.

The same is true here. Christ, in his last words of public ministry, leave a hint of hope in the form of a quotation from Psalm 118 which we read together earlier. This Psalm is a celebration of God’s redemption of his people and an earnest looking forward to the Messiah, the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

Now, Luke has this quotation before Palm Sunday and the Triumphant entry when these words were shouted by the crowd as Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. However, even in Luke these words are not ultimately fulfilled in the triumphant entry; that is more of a ironic fulfillment, the people praising the Christ hypocritically since the crowds will shout for his death not even a week later.

No, this verse is referring to a day when everyone would acknowledge who Jesus is. A day when he would come again to the earth to receive in the Kingdom in its fullness. As Paul says in Phil 2:9-11

Philippians 2:9–11 ESV

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

While they will see Jesus again on his way to the cross, Jesus will not proclaim himself publicly again until the day when he comes again. For some, the recognition of Jesus will be one of terror and fear of judgement. For others, it will be shouted with joy as it is in Psalm 118.

So it is as if Jesus is saying, “besides the cross, my work here in Jerusalem is done. You will not see me again in this way until the day when the faithful will shout my praises as I come to claim what is mine.” Therefore, there is hope. Christ is abandoning Jerusalem and her inhabitants to the wolves for now, but he will come again. In the meantime there will be many chances to believe upon him so that his coming will be glorious to you. Then you will see me again, and all the promises of Scripture will come true. There is still a chance for repentance, will you take it?

Conclusion

A comforting and terrifying truth: you are not invisible to God, and God is not dispassionate towards you. Whoever you are, God has feelings about you and desires you. He wants you to know him.

If you are a Christian, you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. You are ready to welcome Christ on the final day with a joyful “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” God’s disposition, his attitude and feeling towards you, is love, care, compassion, and warmth. He is concerned about your sin and seeks to heal you in your union with Christ. Christ has gathered you as a hen gathers her chicks. This is his feeling towards you, his commitment to you; an affection communicated to you at the Table we are about to receive.

For others of you who perhaps have not yet believed, God is jealous. His judgement hangs over you, but with that judgement and wrath is mixed a compassionate longing. He doesn’t need you, but he wants you. He wishes to save you from death and gather you under his wing, but so far you have been unwilling. A day will come when he will leave you to your own devices and where eventually there will be nothing but death for you. May the judgement hanging over your head inspire fear in you, but understand that this wrath is motivated by a jealousy. You belong to him, you owe him your love. He is justifiably jealous for you and longs that you should come to him and have life abundantly. But so far, you have chosen death. Think of the words of God to rebellious Israel through the prophet Isaiah 1:5

Isaiah 1:5 ESV

Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

God will save his elect, a number unknown to us. A day will come when the doors of his affectionate heart will be closed to you. But so far, today is not that day. You still breathe, you still hear, and even now his longing for you is motivated by compassion. Will you really die in your sins? Will you really destroy yourself in your pathetic attempt at independence from the God who made you to be with him? See, his compassion is extended to you today, and even his anger is motivated by longing. Take hold of him now for life and glory in Jesus Christ who loved us and gave himself for us.